Packaging



Oct. 24, 1939. F w, NI'IIARYDY PACKAGING Filed Oct. 20, 1938 2 Sheets Sheet l IINVENTOR I ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 24, 1939 rs!) STATES I arisen rarer Fi i 2,176,923 PACKAGING Ferdinand W. Nitardy, Brooklyn, N. Y.,- assignor to E. R, Squibb & Sons, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 20, 1938, Serial-N0. 235,967 14 Claims. (01. zen-so) This invention relates to multicameral containers of the collapsible-tube type for theium'tary packaging of a plurality of products.

Numerous containers have heretofore been devised for the unitary packaging of mutually reactive or other products out of contact with each other and the dispensingthereof in intermixed condition, the most common being the multiple-tube type comprising aninner collapsible are characterized by duplication of'parts and consequent expensiveness of production' .It is the object of this invention to provide simple, inexpensive, and efficient multicameral collapsible-tube containers and packages, and a method of preparing such packages.

Essentially, the containers and-package's of this invention comprise a collapsible tube 'ha'v ing inelastic collapsible partitions therein divid ing the intericrinto compartments, at least a portion of each partition being pressure-dis- .placeable to permitintercommunication of the compartments' I The invention isillustrated in the accompanying: drawings, wherein: I

'Figa-l, 6, 8, 9, and are part elevations and part axial sections of multicameral collapsibletube packages embodying the invention;

Iig. 2 is an axial section of the partition used in the package of Fig. l;

Figs. 3 and 4 are axial sections of modified ar-titions;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of still another modification of the partition;

'7 and 11 are fragmentary axial sections of other multicameral collapsible-tube packages embodying the invention; and

Fig. 12 is a transverse section taken on line l2l'2 of Fig. 7.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1 comprises a collapsible tube 19 (of soft metal) having shoulders 23 and-2|, an elongated, tubu lar applicator 22 integral with shoulder'Zl and having a terminal outlet 25, and atransv erse partition in the bore of the tube abutting shoulder 23. The partition (dividing the interior of the tube into two compartments) comprises a col apsib e disk 24 (e. 'g.. of soft metal) having a central aperture 28, a plug 32 of expressible solid material (9. g., petroiatum) sealing the ap-v serves to hold the partition securely against the inner wall of the tube.

The package shown in Fig. 1 is prepared by holding the tube in the usual (inverted) filling position, placing a plug 30 of expressible solid material in the bore of the tube at the junction of shoulder 2| and applicator 22, filling the tube to shoulder 23 with product 3i. inserting disk 24 (the external surface of its skirt 2'! having prlorly been coated with a viscous substance,

such as petrolatum), sealing aperture 28 with a plug 32 of expressible, solid material, adding the secondproduct 33,-interfolding the open end of the tube, and sealing it in the customary manner with crimping-clip 34.

The two products in the package shown in Fig. 1 are maintained out of contact with each other by employing, as the material for plug 32 and as the viscous sub-stance applied to the skirt of the disk, a substance immiscible with (and impervious to,'and, of course, inert to) the two products. Pressure applied at the bottom of the tube (in the customary manner)v is transmitted to--and expresscs -plugs 32 and 30, causing product 33 to pass into the upper compartment and be dispensed with product 3! in intermixed condition. Disk 245, being collapsible, does not interfere with complete expression of the contents of the tube.

4 As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, aperture 28 is formed with a skiit extending in the same direction as skirt l'l'; but the aperture may be formed as a plain perforation or with a skirt 29 extending in the opposite direction from skirt 21, as shown in vFigs. 3'and 4. Furthermore, disk 24 may be conical or convex (instead oi -flat) as shown in Fig. 4.

Alternatively, it may be provided with a plurality of apertures.

in Fig. 6 and conical in Fig. 8) serves to partition the interior of the tube into two compartments, and is provided with a central aperture 42 scaled by a plug 32 of expressible solid material. The bottom of the tube is sealed by means of an interfold and crlmped-clip-Sd in the usual manner.

'I'he'packages'of Figs. 6 and 8 are prepared by inserting cup 40 into the tube the telescopically contacting surfaces ofthe cup and tube having been priorly coated with petrolatum or similarly viscous substance), placing a plug 30 of expressible solid material in the bore of the tube neck. (Fig. 6) and/or applying a screw cap 18 to'the neck (Fig. 8), placing the tube in the usual (inverted) filling position, introducing product 3| into the lower compartment by means of a filling tube passing through aperture 52in the cup bttom, sealing the aperture with a plug 32 of ex-- prcssible solid material, adding product 33, and

scaling the open end of the. tube. Alternatively,

cup 46 may be filled with product 31 and then inserted in tube It). On removal of the cap it and application of pressure at the base of the tube, the ingredients will be dispensed in intermixed condition as explained in connection with the embodilnent'of Fig. 1. I v

The package illustrated in Figs. '7 and 12 comprises a collapsible tube It? and a circular, non-.

aperturedcollapsible disk Gil (e. g., of soft metal) below and abutting two or more dents 6i (Fig. 12) in the wallv of the tube, the dents being so disposed as to permit tilting of the disk. 'The I package is prepared in the manner hereinbefore 5 described, i. e., by filling (in the usual position) with product 3! up to dents 6i, inserting disk 60 (the edge thereof having been priorly coated with petrolatum, for example), and addingproduct 33. .On applying pressure to the base of the tube, the disk; 60 is tilted, to' permit intercommunication between the compartments and dispensing of the products in intermixed condition. The embodiment shown in Fig- 9 is similar to that shown in Fig. 1 except that the partition-. retaining shoulder 23 of] the latter is omitted In fin-po ing this package, tube l9 is' first internally coated with petrolatum or similar material immiscible with the products, the tube plac'edini the usual filling-p';si tion partially filled withpr'od uct 3|, disk '24 is inserted to rest on the top of product 3|, aperture d2 of the disk is sealed with a plug 32 'c-fexpressible solid material, and product 33 is added- I I Where contact of either product with the maierial of' plug- 32 would be objectionable, a metal partition of the type shown in Fig. 5 may-be used. This com-crises a circular disk 24 having an ans nular "kirt 21, the disk having a cross-slit 26 cut through it and sealed with a layer 50 of w'ax, forexample; The sealed partition may be inserted in a collapsible tube and the two compartments thus tormedfille'd with the different products through the opposite ends of the tube; or alter-; natively, the tube may be partially filledwith one product, the partition inserted, andthe rest of the tube filled with the other product. pressure is applied atthe'base of the sealed tube,

the {our flaps formed by the cross slit are forced open to permit intcrcommunication of the chambers and the products are dispensed in intermixed condition. I

The partitions I any matezial that is capable of physically. separat'ng the products and that is inelastic and at least partially pressure-displaceable, is-utilizable for the purpo e of this invention. Thus, in the having a cap I8, is coated internally with petrolatum, for example, placed in the usual filling po-[ sition and partially filled with product 31; then a thin layer EI of melted petrolatum is poured onthe top of product 3| and allowed to c ongeal to form a partition (about t; inch'thickfor example) finally, product 33 is added and the tube sealed in the usual manner.

A modification of the embodiment of Fig. is

When

need not be formed ofmetal; j

shown in Fig. 11, wherein a partition 30 or petrolatum, or similar material, is placed inthe bore at the junction of the tube shoulder 2i and the integral, elongated tubular applicator, 22, separating product 3i in the applicator from product 33 in the tube body. A rubber cap l'l, and/or plug of expressible solid material in the bore of the 'nous in character, e. g., petrolatum, wax, glycerinated gelatin, and aqueous gum jelly. Thus a watersimmiscible material, such aspetrolatum, is very satisfactory for the packaging of aqueous jellies, and an aqueous jelly, such as glycerinated aqueous gelatin is very'satisfactory for packaging water-immiscible or oily products. I 'Ihje invention may be variously otherwise embodied-for example, packaging more than two products in a single tube by using more than one I partitionwithin the scope of the appended claims. I

-Iclaim: v

l. A container comprisingia collapsible tube having inelastic coilapsible'partitions therein dividing the interior into compartments, at least a portion of each partition being pressure-displaceable to permit intercommunication of the compartmcuts.

A. package comprising a collapsible tube, a...

plurality ofproducts therein maintained out of contact with each other by inelastic collapsible ra'rtit'ions, at least aportion of each partition be? ing pressure-dispiaceable to permit dispensingthel products in intermixed condition.

3,-A container for the unitarypackagi'ng of mutually reactive. products out of contact with each other and adapted to dispense them. in in- .termixed condition, which comprises; a collapsible tube havinginela'stic collapsible partitions therein dividing the interior into compartments,

I at lea t a portion of each partition being pressuredispiaceable to per itintercomniunioation of the compartments. i

- A. A, container comprising a collapsibletube having I inelastic collapsible partitions. ;,tl1 ereln I transverse to the axis of the tube, dividing the interior into compartments, at least a portion of each partition being pressure-displaceable to permit interconnnunication' of the con'ipartments.

5. Aconizainer comprising a'collapsible'tube havlngan inelastic collapsible partition therein dividing the interior into compartments, at least a p.1-rtion 'of the partition being pressure-dise compartments; i I

6. Acontainsr comprising a collapsible tube, an apertured inelastic collapsible partition there'- in dividing ,the interiorint'ocompartments, and a plug of expressible, solid material sealing the v aperture.- embodiment of Fig. 10, a collapsible tube l9,

."7. A container comprising a collap'sibletube having an additional shoulder intermediate its length, an inelastic'collapsible partition therein abutting the shoulder and dividing the interior into compartmentsatieast a portion of the par tition' being: pressure displaceable to permit-inte'rcornmunic'ation of the compartments.

1 8. A package comprising a collapsible tubehavplaceable to permit intcrcommunicationof the ingits outlet end sealed. by :a plugof expressible solid material, 'aplurality of products therein'ifi each partition being prcssurc-displaceable to pervmit dispensing the products in intermixed condition.

9. A- container comprising a collapsible tube, an inelastic collapsible cup telescopically disposed in the tube with its open end facing and abutting the outlet oithe tube, the bottom of the cup providing a partition dividing the interior of the tube into compartments, at least a portion of the partition being pre sure-displaceable to permit intereommunicatrion of the compartments.

10. A container comprising a collapsible tube having dents in the tube wall intermediate its lengthQa collapsible disk. transverse to the axis of the tube below and abutting the dents and dividing the interior into compartments, the dents being so disposed as to permit tilting of the disk.

1. A container comprising a collapsible tube,

an inelastic collapsible disk therein dividing the interior into.'compartments, the disk being cut through to form flaps, and a sealing material joining the, flaps, the flaps and sealing material providing a pressure-openable closure to permit inter-communication of the compartments.

12. A package comprising a collapsible tube and a plurality of products therein maintained out of contact with each other by partitions of expressible solid material. I

13. A package comprising a collapsible tube and a plurality of products therein maintained l4."Apackage cornprising a collapsible tube and plurality of products therein maintained out of contact with each other by partitions of petrolatum.-

' FERDINAND W. NITARDY. 

